1/72 Revell F-4F Phantom
II 'Luftwaffe' |
|
Gallery
Article by Drewe Manton |
|
|
This F-4F Phantom is based on the new Revell kit (I kinda like Phantoms. . can
you tell?) I finished it as an F-4F ICE (Improved Combat Efficiency) of
JG-74 "Mölders", Luftwaffe. The ICE Phantom is a major upgrade
for the F-4F, and finally gives the aircraft a BVR capability with it's APG-65
radar and AIM-120 missiles. In fact quite a few F-15 and Tornado
F-3 pilots got a rude shock in the early 90's when these first showed up
at Maple Flag exercises in Canada. The previously easy meat Phantom turned
into a force to be reckoned with. . as witnessed by the televised mauling of a
Tornado F-3 package in the TV series "Top Guns" ! The kit is really
very nice, and gives the Hasegawa kits a run for their money in no uncertain
terms! I'd be happy for either model to fill my Phantom needs in the
future, they are that close in overall quality.
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
|
The model is basically
SFTB.
Seats are True Details resin, and canopy mirrors are from PP Aeroparts.
The kit includes a full complement of AMRAAMS and Sidewinders, but they really
could do with replacing with items from Hasegawa weapons sets. I was all set
to give mine a full load when I managed to lose one of the 'winder launch
rails (easily done. . this is the first Phantom kit to get this detail right.
. the Sidewinder rails attach via two very small points to the main pylon. .
they are separate from each other, and not the "twin rail" style
most representations would have you believe). Luckily I found pictures of
F-4F's with only one 'Winder rail per pylon, and was able to model my Phantom
thus, with an AIM-9L acquisition round on one pylon and a DACMI pod on the
other. The DACMI pod is from Hasegawa and the acquisition round is a white
metal item from a PP Aeroparts Tornado F-3 detail set. . . Having built these
Sidewinders before (think 15 parts each. . in 72nd!) for a Jaguar I am in no
hurry to repeat the exercise FOUR times for a Tornado F-3. . so the
beautifully cast white metal body was perfect for the job!
The kit goes together without
any great drama (in fact the wing is a very tight fit. . much better than
Hasegawa's), tho' I did separate the intake ramps in order to paint them separately
and add them at the end of construction. Tail area was painted with SNJ
in varying shades, the weld marks on the forward part of the tailplanes is
done with Tamiya smoke and a fine brush. All main paints are from
Humbrol. The model is painted in the latest "Norm 90J" scheme of
37375,36320 and 35237 using Blu-Tack rolled into sausages to mark out the
camouflage. Weathering is my normal mix. . .dark grey oil paint scrubbed
into the panel lines and removed with plenty of fresh kitchen roll, post
shading with various shades of grey paint, more airbrushed weathering on the
underside with heavily thinned Tamiya flat black, and finally some oil
streaking and staining with black oil paint applied in small blobs and wiped
in the direction of the airflow. The paint patching apparent on the
model was done with enamel paint and a fine brush.
Decals are a mixture. . stencils
and squadron markings from the kit, codes and national insignia are from TL
decals of Germany and the "slime lights" are from Pro-Modeller (I
picked up three sets on holiday in California. . . I now have enough correctly
coloured slime lights to illuminate most of the US air force!) Final
finish is Tamiya clear with flat base mixed in to give that very slight sheen
that these Phantoms exhibit.
Nice model of one
of my favourite subjects, and I was very pleased with the results. Model
was built over a 10-12 day period in late June/early July.
Drewe Manton
|
|
|